Elevator structure and control for printing presses



C. L. LOW

April 25, 1933.

ELEVATOR STRUCTURE AND CONTROL FOR PRINTING PRESSES Original Filed Sept. 10, 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR Chas.L.L0w

BY Q

April 25, 1933.

. INVENTOR Ch as L .12 am ATTORNEY April 25, 1933. C ow 1,906,070

ELEVATOR STRUCTURE AND CONTROL FOR PRINTING PRESSES Original Filed Sept. 10, 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR I -58 .QAMZ,

ATTORNEY Patented Apr. 25, 1933 u rrED STATES,

PATENT OFFICE CHARLES L. LOW, OF BENTON HARBOR, MICHIGAN, ASSIG-NOR TO LISENBY MANU- FACTURING COMPANY, OF FRESNO, CALIFORNIA, A CORPORATION ELEVATOR STRUCTURE AND CONTROL 'ron PRINTING PRESSES I Original application filed September 10, 1929, Serial No. 391,606. Divided and this application filed September 2, 1930.

This invention relatesto printing presses of the cylinder and flatbed type, and is particularly a divisional application'of my copending application for patent Serial No.

391,606, filed September 10, 1929.

' The structure of the present application deals especially with the elevator construction and with the control mechanism of the elevator; my principal object being to provide what I believe to be a novel form of elevator structure itself, and a relatively simplified means for controlling the move ment ofthe elevator table by the lowering of the level of the pile of papers supported thereon. a

The above object I accomplish by means of such structure and relative arrangement of parts as will fully appear by aperusal of the following specification and claims.

Fig. l is a fragmentary side'elevation of a press showing the elevator and the control mechanism thereof, with such mechanism tripped or released by the lowering of the paper on the'pile to cause the elevator table 2;! to be subsequently raised to restore the top of the pile to anormal predetermined level.

Fig. 2 is a'sectional vator structure.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary top plan view of 80. the elevator andthe distinguisherand control mechanism associatedtherewith.

Fig. 4; is a fragmentary cross section on the line ir-4. of Fig. 2. a r

Fig. 5' is a fragmentary enlarged cross section on the line 55 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6: is a fragmentary end view showing the trip rodof the distinguisher'mechanism. Fig.7 is "a fragmentary transverse view of the distinguisher-rod supporting device. Referring now more particularly to the characters of reference on the drawings, the numeral 1 denotes the side frames of the press which is preferably of that type as shown in the copending application previously referred to. A flat'sheet supporting elevation of the eletable 2, mounted on the frames 1 extends:

rearwardly from the cylinder of the'press and. at its rear end terminates adjacent the forward edge of the uppermost sheet of the pile of paper 3, which is supported on the Serial No. 479,133.

elevator table 4 thereunder. I The elevator table isdisposed at a slight upward angle toward its rear end relative to the table 2, and is mounted in connection with a suitable supporting structure. This structure ineludes pairs of transversely spaced longitudinally extending bars 5 which are disposed under the table and are supported at both ends from the frames 1. These bars extend at a considerable upward angle toward their forward ends, or in the opposite direction to the slope of the elevator table. Blocks 6 slidably engage adjacent pairs of the bars 5,.the elevator table being ivotally connected to the blocks at their orward ends and being also connected to the lower ends of the blocks by vertically adjustable links 7. v

' This arrangement enables the angularity of the table 4 to be adjusted somewhat to the bars and to the table 2. The stack of paperis guided and maintained in a desired trans-' the table and at the forward ends terminate just below the level of the table 2; a vertical cross plate 8' extending to the level of said table 2 from the upper edges of the bars-as shown in Fig; 2, and forming a definite locating stop for the forward edges of the uppermost sheets ofpaper on the pile.

The bars above the elevator table form stops or guides for the adjacent edges of the sheets of the pile, and since the bars are at an angle to the tablethe edges of the sheets are not in a common vertical plane but will be in combed relation to each other, or so that each sheet is advanced relative to the one below in the direction of the cylinder. Since the elevator table as raised and moved up willat the same time move in a longitudinal direction toward the cylinder, the combed setting of the pile is automatically maintained with any such movement of the table. Tipping of the elevator table from a horizontal plane in the direction of the cylinder tends to cause the sheets to slide toward the table 2 and thus causes the combing to be maintained with more certainty.

' The table is thus raisedby means of chains 9 or the like attached to the links 7 and extending thence parallel to the bars 5 to and over pulleys 10 fixed adjacent the upper ends of said bars to the sides of the table 2, from which the chains extend horizontally and rearwardly (or away from the table 2) to drums 11. These drums are fixed on a common shaft 12 journaled on top of the frames 1. This shaft at one end has a ratchet wheel 13 engaged by a pawl 1a which is arranged to prevent rotation of said shaft in a direction such as would cause the chains to be unwound from the drums, and the table to be consequently lowered. The other end of the shaft carries a gear 15 meshing with a pinion 16 fixed on a stub shaft 17 projecting through the frame 1 on one side of the press. A ratchet wheel 18 is fixed on said shaft outwardly of the frame and is engaged by a pawl 19 mounted on a relatively radial arm 20 which is turnable on said shaft and projects horizontally therefrom. This pawl and ratchet are arranged so that depres sion of the outer end of the arm causes the shaft 17 to be rotated, while the chains are so disposed aboutthe drums 11 that such rotation of said shaft causes the chains to be wound on the drums and the elevator table to be raised.

A link 21 depends from the outer end of the arm 20 and is connected at its lower end from one face of a disc 27.

to the free end of a horizontal arm 22 pivoted at its opposite end on the adjacent frame 1. A tension spring 23 between said frame and the arm 22 tends to raise the latter, its upward movement being limited by a stop 24L projecting from the frame.

Projecting laterally from the arm 22 intermediate its ends is a lug 25, adapted to be' rod 30.

' A mechanism, controlled by the level of the top of the pile, is provided to hold the arm 22 normally down so that the pin 26 with the rotation of the disc will not forcibly engage the lug 25 and depress the arm until the paper on the pile is depleted somewhat and its level is correspondingly lowered.

The mechanism is arranged as follows: Positioned to engage the topmost sheet of paper toward its end furthest from the table 2 is a distinguisher element preferably in the form of a roller 31 which is mounted on one end of a rod 32 extending lengthwise of the press and away from the cylinder. This rod is supported by a transverse arm 33 which is pivoted intermediate its ends on a suitable bracket 34 fixed in connection with the frame of the press. The end of the arm 33 opposite the rod carries spaced counterbalance weights 35 so arranged that the roller will bear lightly on the paper and will tend to move down as the level of the paper is lowered, without exerting such pressure on the paper as to make it hard to pull the topmost sheet from under the roller. Projecting under the arm 33 between the Weights inwardly of the ad jacent frame 1 is the upper longitudinally extending portion 36 of a vertical rod 36a, which at its lower end is fixed in connection with a transverse spindle 37 turnable in said frame 1. Depending from and fixed on the outer end of this spindle is another rod 38 disposed intermediate the ends of the arm 22 and in a transverse plane just to one side of the same. The lower end of this rod is adapted to engage a shoulder 39 formed on a block 40 secured on and projecting laterally from the arm 22. A weight 41 mounted in connection with the rod 38 tends to turn the same onits spindle and move its lower end away from the shoulder and to raise the upper horizontal member 36 against the arm 33. The members 36, 36a, and 38 practically form a single continuous unit pivoted intermediate its ends on the frame, as will be evident. The parts above described are so arranged that if the paper is at its normal level and the rod 36 is bearing snugly against the arm 33, the lower end of the rod 38 will be so disposed vertically as to be in line with the shoulder 39. In turn this shoulder, when the arm 22 is positioned so that the lug 25 is barely engaged by the pin 26 at the end of the stroke or oscillation of the disc 27 in one direction, will be at such a level as to be on a level with the bottom of the rod 38 so that the latter will seat on said shoulder and thus prevent the springs 23 from functioning to raise the arm 22.

The various parts of the distinguishing and control mechanism above described are somewhat flexible or yieldable, and as long as the level of the paper remains substantially the same or normal, the horizontal member 36 cannot raise, and consequently the rod 38 cannot swing forwardly to clear the shoulder 39. The spring 23 therefore cannot act to raise the arms 22 and 20. With the lowering of the paper on the pile, however, the roller 31 of course moves down and rebates the weighted end of the arm 33 is tilted up, leaving a clearance under said arm 33 for the member 36 to rise, which it tends to do owing to the weight 41. The pin 26 of the disc 27 bears lightly against the lug 25 in an arm depressing direction with each oscillating cycle of the disc, and if the above mentioned clearance exists the lower end of the rod 38 of course swings clear of the shoulder 39 whenever the holding pressure due to the springs 23 is released by said light engagement of the lug 25 by the pin 26.

As soon as said pin 26 moves clear of the lug with the oscillating of the disc in the 0pposite direction, the arm 22 swings upwardly due to the pull of the spring 23, and the arm 20 likewise moves up, retracting the pawl 19 about the ratchet wheel 18. The extent of upward movement of said arm 22 is of course limited by the stop 24.

With the subsequent or return oscillation of the disc, the pin 26 engages the lug 25 and depresses said arm to its original position. This causes a rotation of the ratchet ing the elevator to be instantly raised sun cient to restore the paper to its original level.

The member 36 is therefore depressed by the lifting of the roller 31 to its original position and the rod 38 again swings to position over the shoulder 39, engaging the same and preventing a subsequent raisingof the arm 22 when the pin 26 moves awayfrom the lug 25. The parts are all then. in the positions originally described and remain thus until the paper is again lowered, when the cycle of operations above recited is repeated.

The paper feeding mechanism which is associated with the above described elevator structure and featured particularly in said copending application, Serial No. 391,606, includes a longitudinally movable supporting block 42 mounted on the press for movement lengthwise and substantially parallel to the table 2, and which supports paper on gaging suction nozzles 43. The movement of this clock is controlled by the reciprocation of an arm 44: which is connected to the disc 27 by a link 45; and such movement is arranged so that when at the rear end of a reciprocating stroke the nozzles overhang the forward edge of thetopmost sheet of paper just rearwardly of the plate 8 as shown in Fig. 2.

To prevent the possibility of more than one sheet being taken up by the nozzles an air pressure or flutter pipe 46 is mounted just ahead of the plate 8 and has a side opening which registers with a corresponding opening in the plate, as shown in Fig. 2. The air is therefore constantly blown between the sheets at the adjacent end, tending to keep the same separated. The elevator'control mechanism is operated in con junction with the nozzle operatii1g-inechanism'insuch relation that the elevator will be raisedif necessary as the nozzles reach the rear end of their stroke and are in position to engage a sheet.

From theforegoing description it will be readily seenthat I have produced such adevice as substantially fulfills the objects of the invention as-set'forth herein.

While this specification sets forth in detail the-present and preferred construction of the device, still in practice such deviations from such detail may be resorted to as do not form a departure from the spirit of the invention, 5 as defined*"by the appended claims. i I Having thus described by invention what I claim as new and useful and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: p

1. In a printing press, a paper elevator including fixed bars having a downward slope towardtheir rear ends, slides engaging the bars, a substantially horizontal pile sup porting table supported by-the slides, means operated in conjunction with the operation of the press for moving the slides along the barsand guide bars for the side of the pile fixed in parallelrelation with and above said first named bars, and extending through a transverse slot in the table.

2. In a printing "press, a paper elevator includingatable to support a pile of paper, a mechanism for raising the table including a rotatable ratchet wheel, means between the wheel and table causing the latter to be raised with "the rotation of the wheel 'in oned'irection, means preventingrotation of said wheel in the opposite direction, a pawl engaging the wheel, a horizontal arm on which the pawl ismounted turnable axially relative tothe wheel, a link depending from the arm, a lower horizontal pivoted arm to the free end of which the 'linkis attached, an oscillating member tending todepr'ess said lower 'arm' with alternate oscillations to cause'the ratchet wheel to be turned ina table raising direction, yie'ldable means acting tohold the lowerarm raised, and means controlled by 'thelevel of the paper onthe pile for holding said lower arin depressed to the level to which it would be depressed by said oscillating member, until the-level of the-paperhas been lowered a predetermined amount; said means including a member resting on the topmost sheet of the pile.

3. In a printing press, a paper elevator including a table to support a pile of paper, a mechanism for raising the table including a wheel, means between the wheel and table to cause the latter to be raised with the rotation of the wheel in one direction, means preventing reverse rotation of said wheel, an arm turnable axially of the wheel, means between the arm and wheel to cause the latter to be rotated in a table raising direction with a turning of said arm in a certain direction, a link projecting from the arm, a pivoted arm to the free end of which the link is attached, an oscillating member tending to. move said arm in said certain direction with alternate oscillations, yieldable means acting to move the arm in the opposite direction, an element to rest on the topmost sheet on the pile, a transverse rod from one end of which said element is supported, means mounted on the press for rocking movement in a vertical transverse plane and on which said rod is pivoted intermediate its ends, a vertical rod unit pivoted intermediate its ends on a transverse axis, a horizontal extension to pass under said transverse rod adjacent the end thereof opposite the paper engaging element, said element tending .to move down as the level of the paper is lowered, and the lower end of the rod unit being disposed to one side of the lower arm and located intermediate the ends of the same, a block on and projecting. laterally from the lower arm and on which the lower end of the rod unit is adapted to rest and to then hold said lower armdepressed, and means acting on said rod unit to swing the same so as to hold the extension thereon againstthe transverse rod and tending to cause the lower end of the rod unit to move clear of the block.

4. I11 a printing press, a paper elevator including fixed bars having a downward slope toward their rear ends, slides engaging the bars, means operated in conjunction with the operation of the press for moving the slides along the bars, a substantially horizontal pile supporting table supported by the slides, and means between the slides and table to enable the angle of the latter relative to a horizontal plane to be altered.

5. In a printing press, a paper elevator including fixed bars having a downward slope toward their rear ends, slides engaging the bars, means operated in conjunction with the operation of the press for moving the slides along the bars, a substantially horizontal pile supporting table pivoted adjacent its forward end on the adjacent end of the slides, and vertically ad- ]ustable links connecting the table and slides rearwardly of the pivotal connection.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

CHARLES L. LOW. 

